MTN Nigeria Crosses 100 Million Subscribers as Market Share Hits 51.76%
The figure puts MTN significantly ahead of its closest competitor, Airtel, which had 66.76 million subscribers and a 34.26% market share.
MTN Nigeria has crossed the 100 million active subscriber mark, strengthening its position as the country’s largest mobile network operator, according to the latest industry statistics from the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).
The NCC’s July 2026 data shows that MTN Nigeria recorded 100.86 million active GSM subscribers, representing 51.76% of Nigeria’s total GSM market. The figure puts MTN significantly ahead of its closest competitor, Airtel, which had 66.76 million subscribers and a 34.26% market share.
Globacom followed with 23.63 million subscribers, accounting for 12.13% of the GSM market, while 9mobile, listed as T2 in the NCC data, recorded 3.61 million subscribers, representing 1.85%.
The milestone comes as Nigeria’s overall active telephone subscriber base stood at 195.11 million in July 2026, up from 192.23 million in June. The country’s overall teledensity also increased to 90% during the month.
MTN’s subscriber base has continued to expand alongside rising demand for mobile connectivity and data services. The NCC data shows that mobile GSM internet subscriptions stood at 157.27 million in July, while broadband subscriptions reached 124.42 million, translating to a broadband penetration rate of 57.40%.
The growth in mobile connectivity is also reflected in Nigeria’s data consumption. Internet data usage reached 1.66 million terabytes in July 2026, the highest monthly figure recorded in the latest NCC data, compared with 1.53 million terabytes in June.
The NCC said its industry statistics are compiled from regular studies, surveys and data submissions by licensed telecommunications operators. The Commission uses the information to monitor industry trends, assess competition and dominance, and identify areas requiring regulatory intervention.
MTN’s crossing of the 100 million mark further consolidates its position in Nigeria’s telecommunications market, where it now accounts for more than half of all active GSM subscriptions.
